For instance, his reply to Gandhi's argument that everyone should follow his own ancestral calling according to his/her caste, Ambedkar flashes back with fervor: Ambedkar spares no one, especially not Gandhi, and gives back a direct, logical and completely awe-inspiring reply.

The mandal refused to allow an audience for Ambedkar's speech for the very reason that, 'at least the word 'Veda' be left out for the time being.'Ĭiting and drawing parallels from history to western philosophy, from Plato to French Revolution, Ambedkar's argument dazzles and dares with objectivity and erudition.Īnother important section in this book is his reply to the criticism of Gandhi to this work. This of course means that all other books of Hindu religion such as Vedas, Shastras, and Puranas, which are treated as sacred and authoritative, must by law cease to be so, and the preaching of any doctrine, religious or social, contained in these books should be penalized' 'There should be one and only one standard book of Hindu Religion, acceptable to all Hindus and recognized by all Hindus. What is more revolutionary and indomitably courageous about Ambedkar and this work is that he questions the very authority of the vedas, upanishads and manu smritis itself. Although caste, a necessary adjustment by the society to keep the religion intact, has been objected by many other forerunners previously to Ambedkar, from Raja Ram Mohan Roy to Mahatma Gandhi, it has always sprung back with a rejuvenated force, for it derived its root from the fundamental philosophy of the Hinduism. The boon and the bane of Hinduism is the fact that both the philosophy and religion is so intricately weaved around its core faith. There is an underlying indignation, fierce and untainted, rightfully directed towards years of unwarranted injustice. Lucid, powerful and scholarly the treatise provides a thorough insight of how and why caste plagues the life of millions. Originally conceived as a speech for Jat-Pat-Todak Mandal, an organization of Caste Hindu Social Reformers, it was later published by Ambedkar himself, for the organization refused to allow him to give his speech in the original form. It encapsulates the ideas of a rebel of how caste and religion oppresses people - socially, morally and economically. Annihilation of Caste is a prolific work by Dr.

An annihilation of caste